Religion Explained

Description

Most people, both today and for all of recorded history have some form of religious belief. Despite the rise of modern atheism, religion is as much a constant of our humanity as language or walking on two legs. Yet the function of belief is less obvious. Why are there religious beliefs in all cultures? Though beliefs obviously vary hugely, do they also have features in common? Why does religion persist in the face of science? Pascal Boyer shows how experimental findings in cognitive science, evolutionary biology and cultural anthropology are now providing precise answers to these general questions, and providing, for the first time, real answers to the question: Why do we believe?

Formerly at Princeton, King's College, Cambridge and the University of Lyon, Pascal Boyer is Professor of Anthropology at Washington University in St Louis, Missouri, USA and a Guggenheim Fellow.

A deep, ingenious, and insightful analysis of one of the deepest mysteries of the human species -- Steven Pinker An excellent book in the spirit of the French Enlightenment, broadly learned and with modern behavioural science added. It deserves to be widely read * E.O. Wilson * This is a bold far-reaching book. His explanation of religion is lucid, entertaining, full of valuable insight -- Lord Habgood * Time Higher * The wisdom in its pages will be a revelation to any seeker after truth. While it lets daylight in upon magic, this book is never scornful and never dismissive, and Pascal Boyer's voice is as unpretentious as its title. If faith is the last refuge of the would-be believer, Religion Explained takes it away but puts something better in its place, enlightenment and understanding. * Ruth Rendell * A fascinating analysis of urge to believe * Scotland on Sunday *